After I’d finished my first raid and watched the spoiled cabróns I had for guildies laugh at the dying dragon we’d slain, I knew a change was necessary. The next morning, I deleted the character and made a new one in Realistic Mode. More difficulty, more pain, a stronger sense of reality. Thinking of finding Hana in Taelman’s Pond a month or so after I’d started here, I could not have been happier with my choice.
“Here for an enchanted ring or two?” a woman called, eyeing my armor. “A warrior of your class surely needs an item that is Epic or higher. I even have a few Legendary rings, though they are not on display.”
“I am here for a ring, though I don’t need anything fancy, sorry,” I said, moving over to a display case that was filled with Uncommon and Fine quality rings.
She didn’t miss a beat. “Anything you need, traveler. Let me know if you’d like help.”
I examined several of the rings in the case. Predictably, most boosted an attribute by a certain amount. I found one that I thought Hana might like.
Ring of the Marksman
Quality: Fine
Durability 30/30
+5% rate of fire with ranged weapon
An obvious choice for me would be to buy one that bumped up my Strength or Dexterity. Anything but intelligence would help, really. But that just seemed too ordinary. I kept searching around until I saw one that felt right.
Ring of Spritely Armor
Quality: Exquisite
Durability 35/35
All movement speed penalties from wearing heavy armor reduced by 15%.
It was a subtle change, but anything to honor the gift that Wardahl had just handed me felt appropriate.
“I want this one and this one,” I said, pointing to the two rings.
She smiled knowingly and added, “The first is odd. I didn’t take you for a ranged fighter.”
“I’m not. It’s for a friend.”
“Some friend to deserve such a fine gift,” she remarked, then pretended not to notice my blush. “They are 100 gold together, but I will reduce the price by ten percent if you purchase something else.”
On a whim, I asked about the one item that I had been dying to acquire since traveling with Alysand. “Do you have any abyss bags?”
The woman’s eyes sparkled. “I’m not sure you can afford one of those, dear.” She watched me as my demeanor didn’t waver, then acquiesced and walked into the backroom. She returned a moment later bearing a small chest.
She opened it up and removed two draw-string bags and one larger satchel.
The satchel was about half the size of Alysand’s, and I inspected it first.
Greater Abyss Satchel
Quality: Legendary
Durability 500/500
Can contain items of any size. Weight of items reduced by 50%. 200 available units of holding.
The other two bags were similarly described. I checked the larger of the two.
Greater Abyss Pouch
Quality: Epic
Durability 250/250
Can contain items of any size. Weight of items reduced by 30%. 100 available units of holding.
I smiled and pointed at the satchel. “How much for that one?”
The woman’s face did not give away a single thought or emotion. “20,000 gold dragons. Though, at that price, I prefer bars or gold, but will accept platinum or most fine gems.”
I choked, the price enough to drain nearly everything I’d gained from the Marduk fight. No, not quite possible. Besides, something that badass should be earned, right?
“And the other?” I asked, my voice betraying a bit of nerves.
“This one is still very high quality. I can sell it to you for 8,000 gold dragons. You will not regret it, I promise.” She stood, hands folded, and I realized that I was facing a demon. This woman could sell a healing herb to her own dying mother for a hundred gold.
I sighed dramatically, hoping to get her to reconsider the deal. “That is a ton of money, and it is only an Epic item. I couldn’t pay more than a thousand for it.”
The woman’s face changed in a blink, a flicker of rage filling her eyes. She took the items, placed them back in the chest, and snapped the lid shut.
“Hang on, hang on—I didn’t mean to offend you,” I said, holding my hand up. “Listen. I’ll buy the two rings at full price. I’m fighting in the tournament today and need an edge. But if I win, I might come back for that bag. That is, if there is any way you might be able to sell if for a more reasonable price.”
“If you win the tournament, I might be able to.” She composed herself and forced a smile on her face again. “If you live, come back and we can ‘reasonably’ barter.”
I paid her the 100 dragons and left, feeling that no matter what I did, the woman would have the upper hand.
When I got back to my room, I stashed Hana’s new ring in my pack, then got prepared for the arena. Slipping the Ring of Spritely Armor on, the armor I was wearing suddenly felt just a little lighter and easier to move in. Excellent!
I no longer needed any of my previous leather armor and was sad to set aside the Dwarven Boxing Gloves that Hana had purchased for me. Considering the stakes here, though, I knew she’d understand. I strapped the mithril axe to my back and God’s Rib axe to my hip. I laced my boots and took a small satchel filled with healing herbs, some travel rations, and plenty of water. It was time to head out.
Tejón was anxiously waiting on the veranda. He’d even refused to finish his gorging.
If I eat too much, I will be slow in the fight. We are still going to fight, aren’t we? Eagerness colored his voice.
I patted him on the shoulder, then turned and led him toward the arena. We are,
